St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-31
COMMUNION OF SAINTS.
A Discourse by Rev. Father Shan
lev at the Cathedral.


Father Stanley spoke at the cathedral
yesterday Oh the subject, ''rhe Com
munion of Saints" He said: 'The
coming week two feasts occu (which
convey lessons of great Importance to
the Catholic mind, viz: the Feast of all
Saints and the Feast of all Souls. In
the Apostles creed, which all protested
Christians recite, we find these words:
Il believe in the communion of saints
What meaning those outside the Cath
Ollie church attach to these words, I
know not. It's true, l have often
could be given those words by non
Catholics, but in vain. But the Cath
Ollie church attaches a great and
plain meaning to the words.
The communion of Saints. implies that
between the members of the church on
earth, in purgatory and in heaven, there
may and does exist all interchange of
prayers and good works. Therefore we
here below can, by our. prayers, be of
benefit to the poor souls in 4purgatory.
In the same manner the blessed ones,
the Saints of heaven, can intercede for
the suffering souls, and uniting their
prayers with ours, ask Almighty God to
grant us those favOrS we, stand in need
of. This is the meaning the Catholic
church attaches to the words: 81 be-
lieve in the Communion of Saints
The communion of saints
TEACHES Us FIRST
that there is life to come. that the
soul is immortal and destined to enjoy
unspeakable happiness forever. 1t d.
reefs our minds towards heaven, place
of ineffable happiness reserved by God
for the faithful. 1t tells us the objects
of life. We are not put on earth to
spend few fieeting years in misery or
comparative happiness. We are not
put here to exhibit our learning and
brilliant attachments before men. We
are created for God, and if our lives on
earth do not tend TIC that end, we are
not living as God intended we should.
The communion of saints raises our
thoughts to heaven and serves to en-
courage us in the trials of life.
This doctrine of Catholic faith also
teaches us to look on death differently.
Humanity speaking death is dreadful
thing. TO stand by the corSe, fills the
heart with heavineSS. To see that friend,
once loved so well, stiff and cold in
death, is horrible. And if we were not
filled with religion, if we did not know
what death was, if we believe as some
that death ends all, it would be unbear-
able, and we could not look with COM
posture on the form of a dead friend.
Religion teaches us that death is not the
end of all, but simply transition from
one state to another. In eternity we
shall meet them, and, though separated
from them for time. we can commune
with them and be a benefit to them
by our prayers and good works.
But lavish expenditures on the body
after death and no thought for the i'm
mortal soul is a crime. Great funeral
professions, small fortunes spent, all
to f1atter the vanity is anti-Christian-
barbarian. It is sad to think, but true,
that often those whom we say we love
are forgotten after the grand funeral is
over. The organ peals forth requiem,
the mourners come to church and kneel
deyontly, the gorgeous casket Is brought
in with all sorts of nonsensical trap
pings. Finally an endless Inc of car
riages Will go to the cemetery and the
horses will come home prencing gaily.
What thoughts have those following in
the expensive carriages &c: the soul of
the departed! Do they over think OF
Offering UP prayers o. masses for that
soul? L fear me not Scarcely is he
buried before his name Is forgotten.
KNOW Az INSTANCE
where wife, made widow by the death
of her husband, was unable TO purchase
lot in the cemetery, yet seycnty-fv We
carriages followed tlic body to the
church. each representing from 81 to 49,
at night this woman was unable to buy
loaf OF bread for her supper, yet sew